Boost for Canny Space at Holy Trinity Sunderland

The Department for Communities and Local Government this morning announced £49,861.44 of funding for The Churches Conservation Trust's Canny Space project at Holy Trinity Sunderland, as part of the Government's new £3 million Coastal Revival Fund.

The additional boost comes after the project was approved for a £2.6m grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund in June 2015. A total of £3.6m is needed to conserve the building and help local people use it to discover grassroots heritage and history, whilst giving one of the most important church buildings in the North East a renewed purpose. The project works in partnership with city institutions and organisations including Sunderland University, Sunderland City Council and Hendon Young Peoples Project.

The Coastal Revival Fund money will help kick-start the regeneration of Holy Trinity by:

Helping The Churches Conservation Trust carry essential conservation works at Holy Trinity Sunderland, particularly to the original 18th century oak doors which are in desperate need of conservation, damaged by woodworm and the elements.

The boost comes only a couple of weeks after Historic England agreed a separate grant of £44,000 to fund urgent repairs to the roof and paster work at the east end of the church, currently cordoned off due to falling plaster.

Kate Wilson, Head of Heritage at Risk in the North East for Historic England said:

“We are delighted to see progress being made at this very special, Grade I listed church in the heart of Sunderland. Holy Trinity is a prominent reminder of the Sunderland’s trading history and has been on our Heritage at Risk Register since 2013.

"We are funding the immediate urgent repairs to the east end of the church and the additional grant from the Coastal Revival Fund towards The Churches Conservation Trust project means the building is closer to a secure and exciting future."